Game Recap

Blue Jackets Cup GCHSCHL Championship Tournament
Ice Prowlers home versus the Olentangy Braves
@ the Chiller in Dublin
Friday, February 18th, 2005

Prowlers blank the Braves in round 2

The 2005 Blue Jackets Cup GCHSCHL Championship Tournament started on Thursday. The Prowlers, by way of a first place GCHSCHL finish received a first round bye and did not start play until round two on Friday. Their opponent, the Olentangy Braves (#4, 10-3-1) defeated the Northeast Storm (#5, 6-15-1) by a score of 10-2 on Thursday to advance to a rematch of last year's second round match between these two teams. The Prowlers swept the season series winning all four games and giving up only three goals against the entire series (6-0 on 11/12/2004, 3-0 on 1/23/2005 4-2 on 2/4/2005 and 4-1 on 2/13/2005). But, this was the playoffs and with that, the regular season is thrown right out of the window.

Freshman goaltender Miles McGrew stole the show in this game. Starting in his first high school playoff game, the goaltender stopped 21 shots to shutout the Braves for his second time this season (his fifth shutout of the season). The young goalie was awarded the game's MVP trophy during post game ceremonies for his efforts, but this was definitely a team win.

The Prowler defense was a big part of the success this night. They allowed only one shot on McGrew in the first period, while the Prowler offense threw 11 shots at Sean Wallace in the Brave's net. The GCHSCHL's regular season leading goal scorer, junior Taylor Walcutt, opened the scoring for the Prowlers scoring with just 3:30 remaining in the first period to get his team on the board first (assisted by senior alternate captain Anthony Kantor and sophomore Brian Rossi). Freshman Geoff Killian then scored his first high school goal 56 seconds later (assisted by freshman Luke Wilkins) to give the Prowlers a 2-0 lead in this tight checking game after one period of play.

The second period opened with more back and forth play and the Braves throwing 12 shots at McGrew. But, it was the Prowler offense that took advantage of their opportunities scoring 1 goal on 3 shots in the period. Senior alternate captain Eric Weinhold scored with 4:03 remaining on a nice passing play by senior captain Eric Willard and sophomore Cody Berkebile to extend the lead to 3-0.

The only scoring for the Prowlers in the third came off the stick of sophomore Nick Hess who took advantage of a loose puck with the prowlers short handed to cap of the night's scoring at 4-0 with 4:11 remaining in the contest.

The Prowlers now go on to face arch-rival Westerville (#2, 18-3-2) in the semi-finals at 6:20 PM on Saturday (2/19/2005) at the Chiller North. The Warcats defeated Newark (#7, 1-20-2) by a score of 11-2 in the first round, then defeated Athens (#3, 16-5-2) 3-2 last evening to advance. The season series was tied between these two clubs 2-2 (4-2 Westerville on 11/07/2004, 4-3 Prowlers on 12/03/2004, 8-3 Westerville on 12/12/2004 and 5-2 Prowlers on 01/21/2005), and a mere 2 points separated them in the final standings.